Andrew Perriman critiques the notion that Adam naming Eve displays man’s authority over woman. Perriman explains that “naming in Scripture is a way of determining the essential character or identity or purpose of something or someone,” and he gives several examples which demonstrate this.

Matt Chandler states unequivocally, “I teach to men . . . I go after the men.” Matt focuses his ministry on men because, he says, this is how he understands the scriptures. So what happens to the lost sheep who are female? And how does Matt’s focus affect the thousands of women in his flock?

An obsession with gender is polarizing the sexes and dividing the Church. Some Christian ministers and ministries seem determined to emphasize gender differences. Adam, however, marvelled at the similarities between man and woman.

Many Christians have an almost sacramental view of church leaders and of the Sunday morning message. Even many evangelicals believe that only an ordained, priest-like man can preach a sermon from the “hallowed” pulpit. This sacramental view – and the traditions and jargon that goes with it – hinders many people from seeing the possibility that godly women may also teach and preach in congregational settings.

Here are links to a few previously posted articles which look at arguments commonly used to keep women out of church leadership, in particular, arguments that use the idea of a male-only priesthood.